Display-front for boxes.



UNITE STATES Patented Eecember 29, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK DAVIS, OF SALEM, OREGON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT J.

' FLEMING, OF SALEM, OREGON. I

DISPLAY-FRONT FOR BOXES.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,950, dated December 29, 1903.

Application filed March 5, 1903. Serial No 1 46,370. (No model.)

To all whom/7125 may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Marion and State of Oregon, have invented a certain new and useful Display- Front for Boxes, of which the followingtis a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to display-fronts for boxes and the like, the object of the invention being to provide a detachable front which is interchangeable with boxes or cases, the said front being adapted for the display of samples of the goods contained in the box and also comprising a lid or door which may be opened and closed and which, t0gether with the tray for holdingsamples, forms a shelf for supporting the goods as they are removed from the box. The parts of the display-front are so constructed, combined, and arranged that they are readily accessible at all times, enabling the samples to be removed andexchanged for other samples, if desired. The display-front also comprises sliding guards or fenders, whichprevent the spilling of the contents of the box when the lid or door is open.

With the above and other objects in view,

the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafterfully described, illustrated, andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a box complete with the display-front applied thereto, showing the door or lid closed. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the front portion of the box, showing the arrangement of the pivoted tray and shelf, the protecting-glass, and the slidable guards or fender. Fig. 3 is a perspective View similar to Fig. 1, showing the door or lid swung open and downward. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the detachable display-front. Fig. '5 is a bottom plan view of the front portion of the box, showing the clearance-slot.

Like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in all figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the box or case, which may be of any desired size .and shape, one side of the box being left open to receive the detachable front 2.

The display-front 2 comprises, essentially, an open center frame 3, preferably rectangular in shape, the opposite end bars of the frame being provided upon their inner sides with grooves 4, which receive the opposite edges of slidable guards or fenders 5 and 5, composed of thinsheet metal, such as tin, and one of the slides 5 by preference having one edge thereof bent or rolled to form a bead or handle 6, by means of which the said slide may be moved up or down to give access to the goods contained in the box, the said fenders serving to retain the goodsin the box and prevent the same. from falling outward upon the door or lid when open. At opposite ends the frame 3 is provided with openings to receive screws or other fasteners 9 for securing the same to the front of the box. 7

By removing the screws 9 the display-front as a whole may be removed from the box.

The front side of the frame 3 is rabbeted, as shown at 10, to receive a hinged front orcover 11, which is thereby made flush with the front of the frame '3. The door or lid 11 is composed of an open center and preferably rectangular frame, which approximately corresponds in size with the frame 3. The frame of the lid or door is rabbeted, as shown at 12, to receive a sheet of glass 13 for protecting the samples, hereinafter referred to, and also to receive a combined tray and shelfl, said tray being surrounded by a flange'or rim 15,which is receivedin the rabbet l2 and bears against the glass 13 for holding the latter in place, the combined tray and shelf being itself held in place by means of a series of keepers or buttons 16, arranged upon the inner side of the lid or door and adapted to 0 be moved into and out of engagement with the tray 14, as illustrated in Fig. 3. V The lid or door is connected with the frame 3 by means of hinges 17, preferably equipped with springs, by means of which the door or lid is automatically closed when released. 18 designates a jointed and folding stay composed of pivotally connected members, as shown in Fig. 3, the said stay being pivotally connected at opposite ends to the lid 11. :00v

and frame 3 and adapted when the lid is closed to fold into a groove or recess 19 in the frame 3, as shown in Fig. 3. The jointed and folding stay serves as a support for the lid or door 11 when the latter is swung downward' to a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 3, said lid or door, together with the tray 14, forming a convenient shelf to receive the goods taken from the boX.

In Fig. l I have illustrated crackers arranged within the display-front between the tray and glass, the crackers being secured to the tray in any convenient way, as by pasting the same thereto. The crackers or other samples displayed are thus held out of contact with the glass, While at the same time they are protected from dust, dirt, 650., thereby. The guard or fender 5 may be slid downward whenever necessary to give access to the goods in the bottom portion of the box or case.

Another important feature of the invention resides in providing the bottom bar of the frame 3 with a longitudinal clearance-slot 20, which extends practically the entire length thereof, as shown in Fig. 5, the object of said slot being to allow the crumbs and other refuse lodging upon the lid or door to escape in the act of closing the lid or door, the said crumbs and trash being thus disposed of, so that there will be nothing to interfere with the closing of the lid.

The display-front may be manufactured in any size and of any material and may be provided with either plain or spring hinges. These and other changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination with a box or case, of a detachable display-front therefor provided with an open center and having a clearanceslot through its lower portion, a lid or door hinged to the lower part of the display-fron t, and means for sustaining said lid or door in a substantially horizontalposition when open whereby the lid or door forms a hinged shelf, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a box or case, of a detachable display-front therefor comprising an open-center frame having a clearance-slot at the bottom, a lid or door hinged to said frame and having a glass-covered opening, and a sample-holding tray removably fitted within said opening.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK DAVIS.

Witnesses:

MARY PAYNE, T. K. FORD. 

